Thursday, November 3, 2011

(Mineral Wells Index) In addition to handing out cartoon-like publications to kids entering the DI Haunted House and families attending Mass last Saturday, one parent reports that Mineral Wells Junior High English teacher Marsha A. McDonald gave her child and others an anti-Catholic pamphlet at school Monday, during class.

The mother, who asked to go unnamed, said her 12-year-old child showed her the small pamphlet titled “Are Roman Catholics Christians?” Monday night, telling her it came from McDonald during Creative Writing class.

McDonald has been suspended by Mineral Wells ISD pending an investigation into whether she violated district policy.

The mother said this all started Monday when McDonald, of Cool, made a comment about the child’s necklace, wondering what it was, said the mother. She said her child replied, “It’s similar to a rosary.”

“She asked her what religion she was and [the child] told her ‘Catholic’ and that’s when [the teacher] got the pamphlet, ‘Are Roman Catholics Christians?,’ out of her back pocket,” said the mother.

She said her child told her McDonald handed the pamphlet to her classroom aide, a student, to hand to the child. She also, according to her child, laid some similar pamphlets across her desk and said, ‘Take as many as you want’ [to the class]. She asked two Hispanic kids if they were Catholic and then they said ‘yes’ and two more pamphlets were given to the aide to hand to those students.”

But she said her child saw other topics, including one against another religion, too.

“On the back of every pamphlet it has ‘Cool Assembly of God’ with the address and telephone number and ‘Rev. Marsha McDonald, pastor’ and ‘God bless you.’” she said. “The fact that you would hand that to a 12-year-old is unbelievable and very disrespectful. I’m glad my daughter didn’t really read it – I hope not.”
When asked if this was typical at another Assembly of God church, Gary Word, lead pastor at Cityview Community Church of the Assemblies of God in Mineral Wells, called type of activity “outside the box,” but added that he can only speak for his church, since each is autonomous, and overseen by the Assemblies of God.

Handing out pamphlets, like those McDonald reportedly handed out last weekend and in class Monday, is “not something I would condone,” Word said. “For this local Assembly of God church, that’s not something that we do.”

“Our belief is in Jesus Christ, in him being crucified and raised from the dead on the third day,” he said. He added that they teach specifically about this and “we’re not going to teach against another religion.”
Father Balaji Boyalla of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, where McDonald reportedly handed out pamphlets Oct. 15, declined to comment.

“The Catholic Church faces challenges locally and worldwide from time to time,” said Fort Worth Diocese Director of Communications Pat Svacina. “It’s something that goes back to the time of Jesus.”

“Those type of matters we take seriously. We reinforce that we are a church Christ formed, built on the rock that is Peter, and believe that the proper authorities should take action,” he said of cases where people have committed a violation of law or policy.

“We are a melting pot of people – all makes, colors, shades and backgrounds – and have a tolerance of people of a lots of religions,” Svacina said of the demographics of the United States and Texas.

From time-to-time, he said people will see anti-religious information shared.

“We’re seeing it in the religious cycle and see it with all religions. The Mormons are seeing it right now. Others see it too, both Christian and non-Christian religions,” he said. “It’s something that has not gone away,” he added, with a reminder, “The U.S. is more tolerant than any place in world of different religions and beliefs.”
Svacina encourages parents to reinforce their belief in their religion and added, of his, “Catholicism has a rich 2,000-year history and is one of the best recognized religions in the world.”

“How many voices in our materialist society tell us that happiness is to be found by acquiring as many possessions and luxuries as we can? But this is to make possessions into a false god. Instead of bringing life, they bring death.”- Pope Benedict XVI

"This past Wednesday I was in part of the hospital that was devoted to people who have memory problems like my father. The people here may have no idea who I am but they light up at the sight of a collar. People who cannot carry on a conversation click “on” and join in prayer as if there were little wrong with them, their faces relaxing in this moment of peace amidst the chaos of illness."- Fr. Valencheck

"The priest's life is not his own. He does not live it for himself and his personal fulfillment, but for the salvation of souls."- Fr. Richtsteig

"I am convinced that if we simply follow the liturgical books, say the texts and carry out the gestures properly, in a style continuous with our tradition, the Church’s liturgy has power the capture minds and hearts and transform them.

I starting forming this conviction before I became a Catholic through my experience of Novus Ordo Masses done in an entirely Roman traditional style, closely following the books.

The late Msgr. Richard Schuler would eventually articulate to me in words what I was experiencing in the church. "Just do what the Council asked… do what the Church asks."

Why is worship well executed according to the mind of the Church so effective?

Christ is the true Actor in the sacred action of the Church’s worship. He makes our hands and voices His own as He raises our petitions and offerings to the Father for His glory and our salvation.

Christ’s Holy Church has determined the way by which we may have this encounter with mystery in the liturgy, be taken up in the sacred action.

Although we have the right to our Rite celebrated as the Church desires, liturgy is not about me or us or even you in the pews." - Fr. Zuhlsdorf

"After celebrating Mass facing the Lord I can report these favorable effects from the priest's point of view:

1. I don't have to worry about where to look
2. I don't have to worry about what my face looks like
3. I can weep at the beauty and wonder of it all without concern
4. I can worship more freely and fully
5. I feel more at one with the people of God
6. I am on a journey to God with the people
7. I am not the focus of attention
8. The elevation of the host and the Ecce Agnus Dei have become more of a focus
9. I feel more part of the great tradition
10. I can't see who's not paying attention and feel I have to do something to get their attention back." - Fr. Longenecker

"My rector in Denver, when he was a young priest, was eating dinner at his secretary's house, a widow from Sicily. Thinking he was polite he said, 'If you wish you can call me Michael.' She stopped, put her hand on her hip, and, pointing at him with her wooden spoon, said, 'Don't think I call you Father because I think you're better than me! I call you Father to remind you who you're supposed to be and how you're going to be judged by our Lord!' He passes that lesson on to all his seminarians."- Fr. Andrew

Decalogue Against Temptation

1. Do not forget that the devil exists.
2. Do not forget that the devil is a tempter.
3. Do not forget that the devil is very intelligent and astute.
4. Be vigilant concerning your eyes and heart. Be strong in spirit and virtue.
5. Believe firmly in the victory of Christ over the tempter.
6. Remember that Christ makes you a participant in His victory.
7. Listen carefully to the word of God.
8. Be humble and love mortification.
9. Pray without flagging.
10. Love the Lord your God and offer worship to Him only.